The former Prime Minister of Chad, Succès Masra, has been arrested in connection with violent clashes that left over 40 dead. His party claims his detainment violated legal processes, as tensions surge following contested election results and ongoing disputes between local farmers and herders.
Former Chad Prime Minister Detained Amid Unrest Following Clashes
Former Chad Prime Minister Detained Amid Unrest Following Clashes
Succès Masra's arrest raises concerns over governmental repression and escalating violence in Chad.
Chad's political landscape has taken a tumultuous turn with the arrest of former Prime Minister and opposition leader, Succès Masra. Detained under accusations of promoting violence through social media, his arrest follows deadly clashes in Logone Occidental province, where at least 42 individuals lost their lives.
Public prosecutor Oumar Mahamat Kedelaye highlighted that Masra's detention is connected to inflammatory messages reportedly circulated on social networks, encouraging citizens to take up arms. Masra's Transformers party condemned his arrest as a "kidnapping" by military personnel, citing the lack of any formal judicial procedure.
Masra, a vocal opponent of President Mahamat Déby, has previously contested the legitimacy of the last year's elections, claiming to have been wrongfully denied victory. Despite official reports stating Déby secured 61% of the vote, Masra insists, "the people’s choice was stolen."
The recent unrest in Mandakao stems from escalating tensions between local farmers of the Ngambaye community and Fulani herdsmen, exacerbated by disputes over land use. The violence marks a troubling trend of conflict between agricultural communities and pastoralists, with farmers alleging that herders are encroaching on their land for grazing.
In addition to Masra, over 80 individuals have been arrested in connection with the violent outbreaks. The Déby family has held power in Chad for over three decades, and the military established Mahamat Déby as the leader after the death of his father, Idriss Déby Itno, in 2021.
As the situation unfolds, Masra’s detention raises concerns about the future of political dissent in Chad and the potential for increased tensions in an already volatile context.
